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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports9 fire reports12 injury reports

Back Over Prevention complaints

2 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2026

Back Over PreventionEnginePower Train

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Hyundai Motor America & Wallace Hyundai of StuartVEHICLE: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe (2.4L Theta II GDI Engine)VIN: 5NMS23AD5LH181669INCIDENT MILEAGE: 181,000 MiHYUNDAI CASE NUMBER: 42981944SECTION 1: CATASTROPHIC INTERSTATE SAFETY INCIDENTOn July 16, 2026, while navigating heavy, high-speed traffic on Interstate 95 (I-95) at approximately 80 to 85 MPH, my vehicle suffered an un-commanded, catastrophic mechanical engine seizure. The vehicle instantly dropped from highway speeds down to a 21 MPH "limp mode," creating an immediate multi-car pile-up hazard on a major interstate. Physical inspection immediately after the failure proved that the engine oil level was completely full. The internal components catastrophically failed due to a documented, systemic factory defect involving premature rod bearing failure and oil starvation mechanisms, entirely unrelated to consumer maintenance.SECTION 2: PRIOR SAFETY COMPLAINTS & DOCUMENTED TIMELINEHyundai Motor America has intentionally forced me to operate a known, life-threatening safety hazard for 17 months, during which I drove an additional 31,000 miles under extreme duress. I filed formal oil consumption complaints with Hyundai Corporate every three to four months. I was forced to manually replenish the engine oil every 1,000 miles due to excessive oil loss.Specific safety reports detailing hazardous engine behavior were formally logged with Hyundai on November 25, 2025, and again in April 2026. Rather than remediating the vehicle, Hyundai corporate claims adjusters and dealership supervisors ignored these warning tracks, effectively throwing a consumer out into active traffic in an unsafe, defective vehicle.SECTION 3: AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN TRAUMA & ACCIDENT RISKThe manufacturing defects caused an intermittent, un-commanded automatic The manufacturing defects caused an intermittent, un-commanded automatic engine shutdown condition. On 5 to 10 separate occasions while stationary at active traffic lights, the vehicle stalled10times

NHTSA ODI #11761774

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2022

Back Over Prevention

We are experiencing exactly what is listed in HYUNDAI TSB #21-BE-005H: intermittent abnormal camera image display conditions on the instrument cluster when the turn left signal is turned on or the radio screen when transmission is in reverse.

NHTSA ODI #11458051

Official recalls

23V181000 · Trailer Hitches

Mar 17, 2023

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

21V00M000 · Visibility:windshield

Dec 28, 2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.